CSAH 78 (Hanson Blvd) Grade Separation – Coon Rapids, MN

CSAH 78 (Hanson Boulevard) is a key north-south arterial connecting neighborhoods, businesses, and emergency services in Coon Rapids and Anoka County. Previously, the route intersected the busy BNSF Railway at grade, creating one of the highest vehicle-train conflict points in Minnesota—with 12,500 vehicles and over 80 trains using the corridor daily. The risk of collision, emergency response delays, and growing freight and commuter traffic made safety improvements a top regional priority.

To address these challenges, SRF partnered with the City of Coon Rapids and Anoka County to complete a feasibility study that ultimately identified a grade separation as the preferred alternative. The design removed at-grade crossing conflicts by elevating CSAH 78 over the rail line and significantly improving multimodal safety and reliability.

Project Features and Engineering Solutions

The $17.5 million project involved the construction of three bridges to carry CSAH 78 over the BNSF Railway, replacing the dangerous at-grade crossing. Additional improvements included:

• Stormwater infrastructure upgrades, including concrete curb and gutter, new storm sewer systems, and ponding basins designed to treat runoff within the Coon Rapids Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA)
• Multimodal access improvements, such as new sidewalks and a shared-use path on both sides of the roadway to improve year-round safety for pedestrians and cyclists
• Improved emergency response for fire, police, and EMS services now unimpeded by rail delays
  

SRF also led project controls during construction, providing schedule review, contractor coordination, and progress tracking to help the County resolve timing issues and keep the project on track.

Collaboration and Community Support

The grade separation project was the result of strong collaboration between Anoka County, the City of Coon Rapids, BNSF Railway, and the State of Minnesota. Due to the constrained corridor, heavy utility presence, and active rail operations, construction required advanced coordination and precise phasing.

Public engagement played a critical role throughout planning and design. Local stakeholders, including longtime project advocate Coon Rapids Fire Chief John Piper, voiced strong support. At the ribbon-cutting, Chief Piper said:

“It is the goal of emergency responders to get to the scene of the emergency as quickly and as safely as possible… The goal of allowing public safety to respond to emergencies without being obstructed at the railroad crossing is huge.”

Resource Links:
City of Coon Rapids
Anoka County Transportation Division

Internal Category:
Roadway Design
Traffic & Technology
Community Engagement
Real Estate, Construction & Project Delivery

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